Input Device

ABSTRACT

An input device, especially for a vehicle, includes a first display for optical display of information, at least a second display arranged above the first display for optical display of information and a touchscreen arranged above the second display for entry of commands by touching an operating surface of the touchscreen.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/731,302 filed on Oct. 28, 2005, entitled “EINGABEVORRICHTUNG”, whichis incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention concerns an input device, especially for a vehicle, with atouchscreen.

BACKGROUND

A touchscreen is known, for example, from DE 201 02 197 U1 (incorporatedby reference). A touchscreen for display of electronic signals and aconfirming touch input of characters and symbols, consisting of afunctional level for display and key input and a higher order,point-deformable protective level corresponding to it, is disclosed inDE 201 02 197 U1. A confirmation signal for the sense of touch (hapticstimulation) of the user, detectable at the position of the contactpoint in the deformed protective level, is generated during selection ofcertain points of the functional level by touching the protective level,and the confirmation signal for the sense of touch (haptic stimulation)is generated by oscillation elements eccentrically arranged withinand/or beneath the functional level. In addition, transmission of thegenerated oscillations from the functional level to the protective leveloccurs in the touchscreen known from DE 201 02 197 U1 by direct contactof the two levels and/or via the edge regions of these levels by rigidor elastic connection elements.

Touchscreens are also known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,565 and EP 920 704B1. Appropriate touchscreens can be obtained, for example, from 3M™ (seewww.3M.com). Additional details concerning touchscreens can be takenfrom EP 1 560 102 A1.

A touch control with haptic feedback for input of signals into acomputer and for output of forces to a user of the touch control isknown from DE 201 80 024 U1 and the corresponding WO 01/54109A1(incorporated by reference) for haptic feedback, in which the touchcontrol has a touch input device that has a roughly flat contactsurface, operated so that a position signal is entered into a processorof the computer based on a position on the contact surface that a usertouches, in which the position signal indicates the position in twodimensions. The touch control according to WO 01/54109 A1 also has atleast one actuator connected to the touch input device, in which theactuator sends a force to the touch input device, in order to provide ahaptic sensation to the user touching the contact surface, in which theactuator sends the force directly to the touch input device based onforce information issued by the processor.

Haptic feedback is also known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,429,846, WO 03/038800A1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,902, WO 922/26230 A1, WO 97/21160 A1, DE 200 22244 U1 and WO 03/41046 A1.

SUMMARY

The task of the invention is to improve an input device with atouchscreen. It is desirable to create an input device particularlysuited for vehicles.

The aforementioned task is solved by an input device, especially for avehicle, in which the input device includes a first display for opticaldisplay of information, at least a second display arranged above thefirst display for optical display of information and a touchscreenarranged above the second display for input of commands by touching theoperating surface of the touchscreen.

The touchscreen according to the invention is especially a transparenttouchscreen. The display according to the invention is especially adisplay or matrix display for variable display of information. A firstdisplay according to the invention can be a TFT, for example.

In another embodiment of the invention, the operating surface isprovided on a side of the touchscreen facing away from the seconddisplay.

In another embodiment of the invention, the touchscreen is connected tothe second display.

In another embodiment of the invention, a spacing between the firstdisplay and second display is variable.

In another embodiment of the invention, the second display istransparent, at least in a significant area.

In another embodiment of the invention, the input device includes acontrol to drive the second display, so that, by means of the seconddisplay, an operating element and/or a warning message can be displayed.In another embodiment of the invention, by means of the first display,an explanation of the operating element and/or a context of theoperating element can be displayed.

In another embodiment of the invention, the input device includes anactuator to move the touchscreen in at least one direction. In anotherembodiment of the invention, the second display can be moved by means ofthe actuator. In another embodiment of the invention, the touchscreen isconnected to the second display. In another embodiment of the invention,a spacing between the first display and the second display is variable.In another embodiment of the invention, the second display istransparent, at least in a large area.

In another embodiment of the invention, the input device includes acontrol to drive the actuator, so that the touchscreen can be moved toconfirm touching of an operating surface of the touchscreen. In anotherembodiment, it is prescribed that the operating element can be displayedby means of the second display. In another embodiment, an explanation ofthe operating element and/or a context of the operating element can bedisplayed by means of the first display.

The aforementioned task is also solved by a method for operating of aninput device (especially comprising one or more of the aforementionedfeatures) with a first display for optical display of information, withat least a second display arranged in the first display for opticaldisplay of information, and with a touchscreen arranged above the seconddisplay for input of commands by touching an operating surface of thetouchscreen, in which an operating element and/or a warning message isdisplayed by means of the second display.

In one embodiment of the invention, an explanation of the operatingelement and/or a context of the operating element is displayed by meansof the first display.

In another embodiment of the invention, the touchscreen is moved toconfirm touching of the operating surface of the touchscreen.

Vehicle according to the invention is especially an individual landvehicle, usable in traffic. Vehicles according to the invention are notparticularly restricted to land vehicles with internal combustionengines.

Touching of the touchscreen can also or only be pressing on thetouchscreen, according to the invention.

Operating elements, displayed by means of the display, according to theinvention can be buttons, pushbuttons, slides, knobs, etc. It can beprescribed that information displayed on the display, like informationin the narrow sense, an operating element, a warning, etc., can be“moved” from one display to a next display. It can then be prescribedthat this is connected to a haptic confirmation by moving of thetouchscreen.

It can be prescribed that at least two different displays are assigneddifferent haptic feedbacks. These haptic feedbacks then differ, inparticular, in that they are distinguishable for an average user.

It can be prescribed that a graphic element is movable during lighttouching of the touchscreen and executable during strong touching of thetouchscreen. Both functions can be assigned different haptic feedbacks.

It can be prescribed that inactive operating element are displayed onthe (rear) first display and active operating elements on the (front)second display. If an inactive operating element becomes active, i.e.,the entered function is operable, corresponding operating elements aredisplayed by means of a second display.

It can also be prescribed to use one of the displays, especially thesecond display, to display alternative input functions, like speechrecognition or gesture recognition.

Another invention or embodiment concerns a navigation system with aninput device (especially comprising one or more of the aforementionedfeatures), in which the input device includes a first display foroptical display of information, at least a second display arranged abovethe first display for optical display of information and a touchscreenarranged above the second display for input of commands by touching anoperating surface of the touchscreen, and in which the input deviceincludes a control to drive the first and second display, so that, bymeans of the first display, a map can be displayed and, by means of thesecond display, direction information and/or an operating element can bedisplayed.

Another invention or embodiment concerns a method for operation of anavigation system with an input device (especially comprising one ormore of the aforementioned features), in which the input device includesa first display for optical display of information, at least a seconddisplay arranged above the first display for optical display ofinformation and a touchscreen arranged above the second display forentry of commands by touching an operating surface of the touchscreen,and in which a map is displayed, by means of the first display, anddirection information and/or an operating element is displayed by meansof the second display.

Another invention or embodiment concerns a diagnosis system with aninput device (especially with one or more of the aforementionedfeatures), in which the input device has a first display for opticaldisplay of information, at least a second display arranged above thefirst display for optical display of information and a touchscreenarranged above the second display for input of commands by touching anoperating surface of the touchscreen, and in which the input deviceincludes a control for driving the first and second displays, so thatdiagnosis information can be displayed by means of the first display anddirection information and/or an operating element can be displayed bymeans of the second display.

Another invention or embodiment concerns a method for operation of adiagnosis system with an input device (especially comprising one or moreof the aforementioned features), in which the input device includes afirst display for optical display of information, at least a seconddisplay arranged above the first display for optical display ofinformation and a touchscreen arranged above the second display forinput of commands by touching an operating surface of the touchscreen,and in which diagnosis information is displayed by means of the firstdisplay and an operating element is displayed by means of the seconddisplay.

Additional features and details are apparent from the followingdescription of the practical examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a practical example of a vehicle in an interior view;

FIG. 2 shows a practical example of an input device in a sketch;

FIG. 3 shows the input device according to FIG. 2 in a perspective sideview;

FIG. 4 shows the input device according to FIG. 2 in a perspective sideview; and

FIG. 5 shows a method for operation of the input device according toFIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a practical example of a vehicle 1 in an interior view. Invehicle 1, a steering wheel 2 is arranged beneath the dashboard 3. Thedashboard 3 has an input device 4 arranged next to steering wheel 2. Asan alternative or in addition, an input device corresponding to inputdevice 4 can also be arranged in steering wheel 2. As an alternative, adisplay according to the input device 4, designated with referencenumber 5, can also be equipped.

FIG. 2 shows the input device 4 in a sketch. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show theinput device 4 in a reduced perspective side view. The input device 4includes a display 12 for optical display of information, at least anadditional, essentially transparent display 14 arranged above display 12for optical display of information and a touchscreen 11 arranged abovedisplay 14 for input of commands by touching an operating surface 16 oftouchscreen 11. Additional, essentially transparent displays can bearranged between display 12 and display 14. In an optional embodiment,the input device 4 includes an actuator 13 to move touchscreen 11 in atleast one direction. One embodiment of actuator 13 can be taken, forexample, from EP 1 560 102 A1. In addition, piezo actuators or so-calledvoice coils can be used as actuator 13. It can be prescribed that thedistance D between display 12 and display 14 is variable.

The input device 4 also includes a control 12, by means of whichdifferent information can be displayed by output of the correspondingdisplay signals A1 and A2 on displays 12 and 14. In addition, thecontrol 10 enters the position signal P sent by the touchscreen 11,which states the position of touching of the operating surface 16 orpressing on the operating surface. In addition, the control 10, ifprovided, controls movement of actuators 13 by output of the controlsignal S. It can be prescribed that at least two different pressurestages are distinguishable by means of touchscreen 11. In this case, theposition signal P also includes the extent of the pressure exerted ontouchscreen 11.

The displays 12 and 14 and touchscreen 11 can be arranged in a housing.In an alternative embodiment of the input device 4, the display 12 isarranged in a housing (not shown), which can be moved relative todisplay 12 by means of actuator 13. Outside on the housing, the display14 is arranged above display 12 and touchscreen 11 above display 14. Thehousing is transparent in the region of display 14. It can also beprescribed that display 14 is part of the housing.

In another embodiment, the input device 4 includes the display 12, thedisplay 14 arranged above display 12, the touchscreen 11 arranged abovedisplay 14, as well as a flexible element arranged between display 12and display 14 (for a case, in which the touchscreen 11 is connected todisplay 14 and is movable relative to display 12) or between the display14 and the touchscreen 11 (for the case, in which the touchscreen 11 ismovable relative to display 14) (not shown) to prevent penetration ofparticles between display 12 and display 14 (for a case, in which thetouchscreen 11 is connected to display 14 and movable relative todisplay 12) or between display 14 and touchscreen 22 (for a case, inwhich the touchscreen 11 is movable relative to display 14). Theflexible element is then advantageously arranged on the edge of thetouchscreen, so that it does not cover a display surface of display 12or 14. In an advantageous embodiment, the flexible element has arigidity that is adjusted to the weight of the touchscreen 11 anddisplay 14 or a weight of the touchscreen 11, so that touchscreen 11, inconjunction with the flexible element, has a mechanical naturalfrequency between 5 Hz and 150 Hz in the movement direction. The naturalfrequency is then adjusted especially to actuator 13 or actuator 13 ischosen according to the natural frequency. The flexible element canconsist of a foamed material, like polyurethane, or an elastomer. Theflexible element can be configured according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,044,186or the corresponding DE 2 349 499.

For the case, in which touchscreen 11 is connected to display 14 andmovable relative to display 12, it can be prescribed that theinformation displayed by means of display 14 is shifted oppositely, sothat it does not appear moved for a user.

In the state shown in FIG. 3, the input device 4 serves as a man-machineinterface for a navigation system. For this purpose, a map 100 isdisplayed by means of display 12 and a direction information 101 andwarning 110 by means of display 14. Traffic characters and/or operatingelements can also be displayed by means of display 14. It can also beprescribed that a selection window for selection of an enlarged mapsection can be displayed by display 14. Warnings can be connected to anacoustic signal.

In the state depicted in FIG. 4, the input device 4 serves as aman-machine interface for a diagnosis system. For this purpose,diagnosis information 150 is displayed by display 12 and operatingelements 151, 152 by display 14. By touching touchscreen 11 in theregion of operating elements 151, 152, the diagnosis information 150displayed by display 12 can be changed. By moving the touchscreen 11, ahaptic confirmation of successful operation of one of the operatingelements 151, 152 can occur. Different operating elements 151, 152 canbe assigned different haptic effects. In particular, operating elementswith a warning function can be assigned a special haptic effect. It canalso be prescribed that details of the diagnosis information 150 aredisplayed by means of display 14. It can also be prescribed that thiscan be pushed into the foreground by an operator from display 12 fromthe background of display 14.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a method for operation of the input device 4.An operating element is displayed in a step 20 by means of display 14and an explanation of the operating element and/or a context of theoperating element is displayed by means of display 12. Step 20 isfollowed by a query 21 whether the operating surface 16 of thetouchscreen 11 is touched in the region of this operating element. Ifthe operating surface 16 of the touchscreen 11 is not touched in theregion of this operating element, step 20 follows query 21. If theoperating surface 16 of touchscreen 11, on the other hand, is touched inthe region of this operating element, query 21 is followed by step 22,in which a function assigned to the operating element is executed. Step22 is followed by step 20, in which, under some circumstances ofoperation of the operating element, corresponding different informationis displayed.

Although described in conjunction with a vehicle as a particularlyappropriate application for the invention, the invention is not to berestricted for this application.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1 Vehicle-   2 Steering wheel-   3 Dashboard-   4 Input device-   5 Display-   10 Control-   11 Touchscreen-   12, 14 Display-   13 Actuator-   16 Operating surface-   20, 22 Step-   21 Query-   100 Map-   101 Direction information-   110 Warning-   150 Diagnosis information-   151, 152 Operating element-   A1, A2 Display signal-   D Distance-   P Position signal-   S Control signal

1. An input device comprising: a first display for optical display ofinformation; at least a second display arranged above the first displayfor optical display of information; and a touchscreen arranged above thesecond display for input of commands by touching an operating surface ofthe touchscreen.
 2. An input device according to claim 1, wherein theoperating surface is arranged on a side of the touchscreen facing awayfrom the second display.
 3. An input device according to claim 2,wherein the touchscreen is connected to the second display.
 4. An inputdevice according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the firstdisplay and the second display is variable.
 5. An input device accordingto claim 1, wherein the second display is transparent, at least in alarge region.
 6. An input device according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a control to drive the second display, so that an operatingelement or a warning message can be displayed by means of a seconddisplay.
 7. An input device according to claim 6, wherein an explanationof the operating element or a context of the operating element can bedisplayed by the first display.
 8. An input device according to claim 8,further comprising: an actuator to move the touchscreen in at least onedirection.
 9. An input device according to claim 8, wherein the seconddisplay is moveable by means of the actuator.
 10. An input deviceaccording to claim 9, wherein the touchscreen is connected to the seconddisplay.
 11. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the distancebetween the first display and the second display is variable.
 12. Aninput device according to claim 8, wherein the second display istransparent, at least in a large region.
 13. An input device accordingto claim 8, further comprising: a control to drive the actuator, so thatthe touchscreen can be moved for confirmation of touching of anoperating surface of a touchscreen.
 14. An input device according toclaim 13, wherein the operating element can be displayed by the seconddisplay.
 15. An input device according to claim 14, wherein anexplanation of the operating element or a context of the operatingelement can be displayed by the first display.
 16. An input deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the input device is arranged in a vehicle.17. A method for operation of an input device comprising a first displayfor optical display of information, at least a second display arrangedabove the first display for optical display of information, and atouchscreen arranged above the second display for input of commands bytouching an operating surface of the touchscreen, the method comprisingthe step of: displaying an operating element and/or a warning message bythe second display.
 18. A method according to claim 17, the methodfurther comprising: displaying an explanation of the operating elementor a context of the operating element by means of the first display. 19.A method according to claim 17, the method further comprising: movementof the touchscreen to confirm touching of the operating surface of thetouchscreen.